Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said Bangladesh is positively considering assisting an UN-led humanitarian assistance programme in Rakhine state in the face of impending famine, which may contribute to stability in Myanmar’s conflicting southwestern state.
He made the remark while Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar Tan Sri Othman Hashim paid a courtesy call on him at the foreign ministry on Tuesday, said a ministry’s press release today.
During the meeting, the adviser highlighted the necessity of early repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, the Rohingyas, with agreed rights and security.
He urged the need for urgent action to prepare a comprehensive Rohingya Repatriation Roadmap involving Myanmar, ASEAN members, the UN, and donor countries.
Hossain emphasized that ASEAN nations, being the most affected by the Rohingya crisis after Bangladesh, could play a crucial role in resolving repatriation challenges through more coordinated efforts.
The foreign adviser congratulated the special envoy on his appointment and expressed hope that his tenure as chair would usher in new avenues to resolve the crisis.
The special envoy conveyed ASEAN's strong commitment for resolving the crisis and assured that he would make a coordinated effort toward this goal.
He agreed that the crisis has gone beyond boundaries and highlighted ASEAN's ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts in Myanmar.
The envoy also emphasized that ASEAN nations, like Bangladesh, are also affected by the crisis, which needs to be resolved through cooperation in all possible ways.
